Novak Djokovic will not play on the ATP Tour before the defence of his Australian Open title, the world No. 1 has confirmed.

Instead, Djokovic will head to the Middle East, where he will compete alongside the likes of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in a six-man exhibition event, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

He will then fly to Perth for the Hopman Cup where he will pair up with fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic before the first major of the year, which begins in Melbourne on January 14.

Djokovic missed the first round of the Davis Cup last season after his Australian Open win, but intends to play the tie in Belgium at the beginning of February.

He has also confirmed he will play in Dubai before heading to the United States for the back-to-back Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.